13 Remedies for Bed Sores

If you or a loved one is bedridden, hospitalized, suffering from diabetes or forced to sit in a wheelchair or lie in a bed for hours at a time, you or he/she might probably be experiencing decubitus ulcers, commonly known as bed or pressure sores. Bed sores are generally caused by continuous pressure applied on a certain area of skin, ultimately blocking the natural blood flow and creating a bed sore.

The first symptom is developing a sore in a particular region of skin, which also begins to redden. If you do not properly treat a bed sore, it turns into a potentially dangerous infection that can cause an agonizing open wound. The most frequent regions that are prone to bed sores are elbows, shoulders, spines, backs (especially in the lower part) or heels. If the bed sore is not treated in time and develops into a wound, you should immediately contact your doctor and get professional medical care. However, if you discover the bed sore in an incipient stage, you can cure it yourself at home. Be sure to check out all of our remedies for bed sores and try to treat them before they evolve into severe wounds.

1. Honey & Sugar

They say that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine goes down. Well this is the case for bed sores, as well, but just in a different way. Instead of consuming honey and sugar, you can make a fantastic mixture that you apply directly to the wounds. After mixing the two ingredients together, you cover the affected area with it and enclose the skin with a bandage (make sure it’s clean). Honey works as an incredible antiseptic and soother for the skin, whereas sugar aids the healing process. Repeat the procedure as necessary as possible and be careful to change the dressing in order to protect the area.

2. Aloe Vera

We already know the amazing properties that aloe vera comes packed with. For those of you who don’t, you should know that aloe vera is rich in minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, and promotes healing, among other health benefits. You are going to need a leaf of aloe very, which you cut in order to obtain its gel. Carefully rub the gel onto the bed sore for a couple of minutes and let it dry naturally. Afterwards, take a clean and wet cloth and wipe off the area, repeating the process about three times a day for quick results.

3. Slippery Elm & Comfrey Leaves

Slippery elm and comfrey leaves make up a well-known home remedy for healing bed sores. All you have to do to obtain the cure is to mix up the same amount of slippery elm with the same amount of comfrey leaves. You need to stir well until you make a paste-like substance, which you apply either directly on the affected area and cover with a cloth, or on a cloth and afterwards tying it to the wound. If you want to make sure that the sore is disinfected, put some Echinacea powder or goldenseal on the wound before enclosing it with a bandage.

4. Massage

It is said that the art of massage therapy can do wonders for the body, mind and soul. In the case of pressure sores, massage has the power to promote healthy circulation and the prevention of skin wounds. It not only protects the skin from developing bed sores, but also aids the healing process. Be careful though, it is not indicated to directly massage the sores, but instead massage the entire body daily in order to boost circulation. If you are the bedridden individual, ask a family member or close friend to help you with daily sessions of massage or consult a professional therapist. If you are taking care of a loved one, be sure to offer massage every single day for natural healing.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is an excellent remedy for bed sores, as it acts as an antioxidant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory powder. These super hero properties battle off any potential infection and are also soothing for the skin. Before you apply turmeric powder to the area, make sure to thoroughly clean it with a disinfectant. Cover up the region with the powder and afterwards with a cloth. It is best to repeat this process three times a day for visible results. Alternatively, you can consume turmeric milk as a warm tea two times a day.

6. Talcum or Baby Powder

When treating a bed sore, it is important to keep the affected area moisture-free. If the wound is not maintained dry, infection can quickly appear and worsen the condition. Both talcum and baby powder are great for keeping a bed sore dry and ready to heal. Clean the area with a sterile solution and then dry it well. Directly apply the powder to the wound and make sure to repeat two times a day for a rapid recovery. Always make sure that the region is dry so you won’t end up with any unpleasant infections.

7. Zinc

Zinc is certainly one of the best friends of the immune system. It not only helps you prevent and heal sores, but also builds up your immunity in order to avoid any other future conditions. Specialists recommend that the patient consumes 15 milligrams of zinc three times every day, preferably together with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You should be careful to take the zinc when you eat so it does not affect your stomach. In the case of more than 30 milligrams of zinc consumption per day, make sure to take 1-2 milligrams of copper daily as well, in order to have a healthy control of minerals in the body.

8. Lysol

If you’re battling bed sores, Lysol is just what you need to cure the infection. All you need to do is take a spray bottle or can and fill it up with Lysol. Afterwards, you can spray the Lysol on the wounded area or on the entire body on a daily basis. It is recommended that you also repeat the process two or three times a day for efficiency.

9. Vitamin C

Vitamin C works fantastically for bed sores. It is a super strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can speed up the healing process and protect your skin from long-term damage. In fact, studies show that people who have vitamin C deficiency are more likely to develop bed sores than those who don’t. Specialists recommend three doses, each of 500 milligrams of vitamin C every day for outstanding results. If you don’t want to take supplement, you can increase your intake of foods that are high in vitamin C, such as bell peppers, oranges or grapefruit.

10. Reposition

One of the simplest and cost-free ways of preventing bed sores in the first place is by changing the position of the patient from time to time. If you or the person you are taking care of is forced to lie in bed for long periods of time, make sure that the position changes once every two hours. In the case of a wheelchair, the patient should attempt to shift their weight once every fifteen minutes. Full repositioning should take place once every hour with help. By continuous repositioning, the skin will be less stressed and less likely to develop bed sores.

11. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an exceptional home remedy for a wide range of causes, bed sores included. Due to the fact that it’s packed in fatty acids, coconut oil has the power to protect and maintain healthy skin, but also to promote circulation by gentle massaging. It is recommended to rub warm oil both over the affected area and over the entire body for prevention, carefully kneading in the coconut oil until it is absorbed by the skin. For awesome results, repeat three or four times a day.

12. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum Jelly is also a wonderful home remedy for treating bed sores. It supports skin regeneration and all-around healing for this type of skin infection. You are going to need only one sterile bandage to cover in petroleum jelly. Afterwards, you have to apply the bandage to the wound, enclosing the affected area. Repeat the process as often as possible, always making sure you have a clean bandage.

13. Saline Water

Last but not least, it is imperative that the region with ulcerated skin is always clean. If not handled properly, a sore can turn into a nasty infection faster than you would have thought. By using saline water, you will not only reduce the extra liquid, but also clean the area of dead skin cells. You can prepare the saline water yourself at home, by mixing two teaspoons of salt in one glass of water. Boil the water, let it cool down, and then use the liquid to wash out the area. Let it dry naturally and then cover it with a clean cloth or a bandage. You should repeat a couple of times a day for positive results.

All in all, mild bed sores can be easily treated on your own at home. However, like we mentioned in the introductive paragraph, do not attempt to heal bed sores if they have developed into infectious open wounds. Always contact a specialist and get the proper medical care for your condition. If you have detected the bed sores in time, we hope our 13 home remedies will help you get better soon!

Paul

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